Switch stand



W. M. BROWN.

SWITCH STAND.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29. I92I.

Patented May 16, E922.

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2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

W. M. BROWN.

SWITCH STAND.

APPLICATION man SEPT. 29. 1921.

Patented May 16, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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SWITCH STAND.

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s Specification of Letters Patent. Pa'UQHt-@d 1313,57- 169 1922 Application filed September 29, 1921. Serial No. 504,183.

T 0 @ZZ whom t may concern.:

Be it known that i, VILLIAM MILTON BROWN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Johnstown, in the county of Cambria and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful improvements in Switch Stands, of which the following is aspeciiication.

This invention relates'to switch stands, and more particularly to switch stands having means for preventing the falsifying of the target when the switch is trailed."

The invention consists broadly in providing a resilient connection between the operating` lever and operating shaft, that will normally remain in operative position,I but will be forced into inoperative position and allow free movement of the operating shaft, target shaft, etc., when the switch is trailed, thus preventing the breaking of any partsor the falsifying of the target.r

. @ne object of this invention is to provide a connection ofthe character described, that may be readily reset after the switch has been trailed, without the substitution ordismantling of any of the parts of the stand.

A further objectof the invention is to provide a connection of this character that will be eflicient in operation, strong and durable, and inexpensive to manufacture,

The above and various other objects and advantages will be broug'ht out in theA following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a switch stand embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan thereof.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail elevation of a portion of the operating lever showing its connection with the operating shaft.

Figure 4 is a plan of the detail shown in Figure 8.

`Figure 5 is a detail elevation showing the position of the connecting pin when the switch is trailed.

Referring` particularly to the drawings, 2 designates the usual switch stand casing, in which is journaled the target shaft 3, having a target l on its upper end. r1`he target shaft 3 has a bevel gear 5 secured thereon intermediate its ends which is in mesh with a bevel gear @secured on one end of an operating` shaft 7 which extends at right angles to the shaft 3 and is journaled in suitable bearings in the casing 2. A counterweighted hand operating` lever 8 is mounted adjacent the free end of the shaft 7, which projects through the casing 2, and is free to rotate thereon.

The lower end of the target shaft 3 is provided with an offset head 9 having a screw threaded aperture therein for the reception of a, screw threaded crank arm 10 which has a pivotal connection with 'one endvof the switch rod link 11. The other end of the link 11 is connected to the usual switch rod.

The free end of the shaft 7 beyond the lever 8 is squared andv ar collar 12 is fitted thereon and secured in place yby apin 13.

An `outwardlyflared recess or notch 1/1 is 15 Iof the locking pin 16. The.v pin 16is slid'-A ably mounted in apertured lugs 17 on the lever 8 and is provided'intermediate its ends and between the lugs 17 with shouldered spring retaining disks 18. A coil spring 19 is mounted around the pin 16 between the disks 18 and the lower disk, that is, the disk nearest the headv 15 of the pin is adjustably locked in positiony on the shank of the pin by nuts-20." lt will: thus be apparent that the tension of,the spring 19 is conveyed through the ylower disk to the pin 16, and this tension may readily be varied by adjusting'thenuts 2O to vary the position of the lowerdisk.

It will be apparent from the above that the pinl and collar 12 form a resilient connection between the lever 8 and shaft 7 The usual locking` mechanism 21 is provided at each side of the switch stand casing for locking the lever 8 in its terminating positions. i

The spring- 19 is of such strength as to normally hold the head of the pin 16 in the recess 111. However, if the switch be accidentally trailed by a locomotive or cars while the operating lever is locked in position, the pin 16 will be forced out of the recess 14 and the switch stand parts. will be free to operate without being damaged, and the target will be turned to indicate the true position of the switch. 1f va switch .should thus be trailed, no parts of the stand are damaged, the target is not falsified, and it is only necessary to rotate the lever 8 about shaft 7 until the head 15 of pin 16 again alines with the recess 141:` when the spring 19 will force it into place and the stand is again in normal condition.

While I have illustrated only one, prefer-red, form of my invention, l do not wish to be limited thereto, since vario'l'ls modifications in design and combination of parts may readily be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

l. ln a switch stand having a vertical target shaft an operating shaft operatively connected to said target shaft, and an operating lever mounted to freely rotate on said operating shaft, means for connecting said operatingl shaft and said lever, said means being adapte-d to remain in operative position during the normal operation of said stand and to automatically release said shaft l when the switch is trailed.

2. yln a switch stand having a vertical target shaft, an operating shaft operatively connected to said target shaft, and an operating lever mountedto freely rotate on said operating shaft, a collar secured to said operatingshaft, and resilient means connecting said lever and said collar, said means loeing'adapted to remain in operative position during the normal operation of said stand and to automatically release said shaft when the switch is trailed.

l erative connection between said lever and said operating shaft, said pin being adapted to remain engaged .in said socket during the normal operation of said stand and to' be au-L tomatically disengaged from said socket if the switch is accidentally trailed.

4. ln a switch stand having a vertical target shaft, an operating sha-ft operatively connected to said target shaft, and an operating lever mounted to freely rotate on said operating` shaft, a collar having` an outwardly flaring recess in its periphery secured on said operating shaftvand a spring pressed pin mounted on said lever and pros vided with a tapered head adapted to be engaged in said recess in said collar to forni an operative connection between said lever and said operating` shaft, said pin being adapted to remain engaged in said socket during the normal operation of said stand and to be automatically disengaged from said recess when the switch is trailed.

5i A switch stand having a vertical target shaft, an operating lever mounted to freely rotate on said operating shaft, and a crank arm secured to the lower endof said target shaft and adapted to be connected to the switch rod, a collar having an outwardly flaring recess in its periphery secured on said operating shaft, and a spring pressed pin mounted on said lever and provided with a tapered head'adapted'to be engaged in said recess in said collar to form an operative connection between said lever and said operating shaft said pin being adapted to remain engaged in said socket during the normal operation of said stand and to be automatically ydisengaged from said recess when the switch is trailed.

ln testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand.

, WILLAM MILTON BRVN. 

